2. GENERAL PACKET RADIO SERVICE A MOBILE TECHNOLOGY OF COMMUNICATION

3. 1.Key User Features of GPRS Speed Immediacyw Applications Speed Immediacyw Applications Speed Immediacyw Applications Speed Immediacyw Applications Better Applications Better Applications Better Applications Better Applications Service Access Service Access Service Access Service Access

4. SPEED Theoretical maximum speeds of up to 171.2 kilobits per second (kbps) Theoretical maximum speeds of up to 171.2 kilobits per second (kbps) GPRS using all eight timeslots at the same time. GPRS using all eight timeslots at the same time. This is about three times as fast as the data transmission speeds possible over today's fixed telecommunications networks and ten times as fast as current Circuit Switched Data services on GSM networks. This is about three times as fast as the data transmission speeds possible over today's fixed telecommunications networks and ten times as fast as current Circuit Switched Data services on GSM networks.

5. IMMEDIACY GPRS facilitates instant connections whereby information can be sent or received immediately as the need arises, subject to radio coverage. GPRS facilitates instant connections whereby information can be sent or received immediately as the need arises, subject to radio coverage. No dial-up modem connection is necessary. No dial-up modem connection is necessary. This is why GPRS users are sometimes referred to be as being "always connected". This is why GPRS users are sometimes referred to be as being "always connected".

6. NEW APPLICATIONS, BETTER APPLICATIONS Message length of the Short Message Service (160 characters). Message length of the Short Message Service (160 characters). GPRS will fully enable the Internet applications you are used to on your desktop from web browsing to chat over the mobile network. GPRS will fully enable the Internet applications you are used to on your desktop from web browsing to chat over the mobile network. For home appliances. For home appliances.

7. SERVICE ACCESS A mobile phone or terminal that supports GPRS (existing GSM phones do NOT support GPRS) A mobile phone or terminal that supports GPRS (existing GSM phones do NOT support GPRS) A subscription to a mobile telephone network that supports GPRS A subscription to a mobile telephone network that supports GPRS Knowledge of how to send and/ or receive information using their specific model of mobile phone, including software and hardware configuration Knowledge of how to send and/ or receive information using their specific model of mobile phone, including software and hardware configuration

8. 2. Key Network Features of GPRS Key Network Features of GPRSKey Network Features of GPRS Packet Switching Packet Switching Packet Switching Packet Switching Spectrum Efficiency Spectrum Efficiency Spectrum Efficiency Spectrum Efficiency Internet Aware Internet Aware Internet Aware Internet Aware Supports TDMA and GSM Supports TDMA and GSM Supports TDMA and GSM Supports TDMA and GSM

9. 3. Limitations of GPRS Limitations of GPRSLimitations of GPRS Limited Cell Capacity For All Users Limited Cell Capacity For All Users Limited Cell Capacity For All Users Limited Cell Capacity For All Users Speeds Much Lower in Reality Speeds Much Lower in Reality Speeds Much Lower in Reality Speeds Much Lower in Reality Suppoort of GPRS Mobile Terminate by Terminals is not Ensured Suppoort of GPRS Mobile Terminate by Terminals is not Ensured Suppoort of GPRS Mobile Terminate by Terminals is not Ensured Suppoort of GPRS Mobile Terminate by Terminals is not Ensured Suboptimal Modulation Suboptimal Modulation Suboptimal Modulation Suboptimal Modulation Transit Delays Transit Delays Transit Delays Transit Delays No Store and Forward No Store and Forward No Store and Forward No Store and Forward

10. 4. Timescales for GPRS Throughout 1999 - 2000Network operators place trial and commercial contracts for GPRS infrastructure. Incorporation of GPRS infrastructure into GSM networksSummer of 2000First trial GPRS services become available. Typical single user throughput is likely to be 28 kbps. For example, T-Mobil is planning a GPRS trial at Expo2000 in Hanover in the Summer of 2000Start of 2001Basic GPRS capable terminals begin to be available in commercial quantitiesThroughout 2001Network operators launch GPRS services commercially and roll out GPRS. Vertical market and executive GPRS early adopters begin using it regularly for nonvoice mobile communications2001/2Typical single user throughput is likely to be 56 kbps. New GPRS specific applications, higher bitrates, greater network capacity solutions, more capable terminals become available, fuelling GPRS usage2002Typical single user throughput is likely to be 112 kbps.

11. Applications for GPRS Applications for GPRS Chat Chat Chat Textual and Visual Information Textual and Visual Information Textual and Visual Information Textual and Visual Information Still Images Still Images Still Images Still Images Moving Images Moving Images Moving Images Moving Images Web Browsing Web Browsing Web Browsing Web Browsing Document Sharing/ Collaborative Working Document Sharing/ Collaborative Working Document Sharing/ Collaborative Working Document Sharing/ Collaborative Working Audio Audio Audio

12. Job Dispatch Job Dispatch Job Dispatch Job Dispatch Corporate Email Corporate Email Corporate Email Corporate Email Internet Email Internet Email Internet Email Internet Email Vehicle Positioning Vehicle Positioning Vehicle Positioning Vehicle Positioning Remote LAN Access Remote LAN Access Remote LAN Access Remote LAN Access File Transfer File Transfer File Transfer File Transfer Home Automation Home Automation Home Automation Home Automation

13. Whatever the application, the Internet will become the primary communications interface. Previously, application developers wrote proprietary applications that worked with proprietary host terminals and often proprietary rugged terminal operating systems. Whatever the application, the Internet will become the primary communications interface. Previously, application developers wrote proprietary applications that worked with proprietary host terminals and often proprietary rugged terminal operating systems.. People increasingly use a web browser to access publicly available data on the Internet itself, the extranet for access to the data of business partners and other external collaborators and the intranet to access internal employee information.. People increasingly use a web browser to access publicly available data on the Internet itself, the extranet for access to the data of business partners and other external collaborators and the intranet to access internal employee information.

14. In addition to adding multiple GPRS nodes and a GPRS backbone, some other technical changes that need to be added to a GSM network to implement a GPRS service. In addition to adding multiple GPRS nodes and a GPRS backbone, some other technical changes that need to be added to a GSM network to implement a GPRS service. These include the addition of Packet Control Units; often hosted in the Base Station Subsystems, mobility management to locate the GPRS Mobile Station, a new air interface for packet traffic, new security features such as ciphering and new GPRS specific signalling. These include the addition of Packet Control Units; often hosted in the Base Station Subsystems, mobility management to locate the GPRS Mobile Station, a new air interface for packet traffic, new security features such as ciphering and new GPRS specific signalling.

15. Related GPRS Challenges Related GPRS ChallengesRelated GPRS ChallengesRelated GPRS Challenges Billing Billing Billing Tariffing Tariffing Tariffing Customer Service Customer Service Customer Service Customer Service

16. The Mobile Value Chain The nonvoice mobile value chain shows the various parties, along with their interdependence and activities, that are involved in realizing the full potential of nonvoice mobile services. The nonvoice mobile value chain shows the various parties, along with their interdependence and activities, that are involved in realizing the full potential of nonvoice mobile services. There will be differences between the voice and nonvoice value chain-need for IT channels, There will be differences between the voice and nonvoice value chain-need for IT channels,

17. These parties are network operators, customers, IT/ mobile channels, terminal and infrastructure vendors and application developers. These parties are network operators, customers, IT/ mobile channels, terminal and infrastructure vendors and application developers. All of these players in the value chain are essential to deliver the overall success of the nonvoice services- if any one is underdeveloped or not present, the entire value chain can break down. Each has a distinct role to play, which will now be discussed. All of these players in the value chain are essential to deliver the overall success of the nonvoice services- if any one is underdeveloped or not present, the entire value chain can break down. Each has a distinct role to play, which will now be discussed.

18. APPLICATION DEVELOPERS Application developers- software developers, systems integrators and the like- are an essential part in the nonvoice mobile value chain. Application developers- software developers, systems integrators and the like- are an essential part in the nonvoice mobile value chain. Customers are interested in what the nonvoice services can be used for- GPRS and other such services are a means to an end and not and end in themselves- they facilitate applications. Customers are interested in what the nonvoice services can be used for- GPRS and other such services are a means to an end and not and end in themselves- they facilitate applications.

19. Application developers may have links to terminal and infrastructure vendors- in many cases, these vendors have application development forums and programs such as the GPRS Application Alliance from Ericsson and the Nokia Developer's Forum. Application developers may have links to terminal and infrastructure vendors- in many cases, these vendors have application development forums and programs such as the GPRS Application Alliance from Ericsson and the Nokia Developer's Forum. Application developers should also have contacts with the network operators since networks have different levels of tariff plans, hardware and network infrastructure and services availability.. Application developers should also have contacts with the network operators since networks have different levels of tariff plans, hardware and network infrastructure and services availability..

20. IT/ MOBILE CHANNELS The customer needs to be able to find out about and sign up for a service in a convenient and easy way. The customer needs to be able to find out about and sign up for a service in a convenient and easy way. The market channels are what facilitates this- different customer groups prefer to use different channels. The market channels are what facilitates this- different customer groups prefer to use different channels. In some cases, customers for nonvoice services such as GPRS will contact and contract with the network operator directly to purchase service- this could be a retail outlet or sales person or telesales type operation. In some cases, customers for nonvoice services such as GPRS will contact and contract with the network operator directly to purchase service- this could be a retail outlet or sales person or telesales type operation. In other cases, they will buy from an Information In other cases, they will buy from an Information

21. Just as consumer oriented propositions such as prepay are available from chemists and newsagents, corporate oriented IP based services such as GPRS are likely to lead to a further evolution in channels for mobile telephony products. Just as consumer oriented propositions such as prepay are available from chemists and newsagents, corporate oriented IP based services such as GPRS are likely to lead to a further evolution in channels for mobile telephony products. Such smart terminals and other devices will be available from IT superstores such as Office World, management consultancies such as Anderson Consulting, business facilities outlets such as Mailboxes Etc., in airline business lounges and the like. Such smart terminals and other devices will be available from IT superstores such as Office World, management consultancies such as Anderson Consulting, business facilities outlets such as Mailboxes Etc., in airline business lounges and the like.

22. NETWORK OPERATORS Clearly, the sum of activities that a network operator carries out is essential in determining the success of nonvoice services. Clearly, the sum of activities that a network operator carries out is essential in determining the success of nonvoice services. From fundamental prerequisites such as deciding to invest in network infrastructure to support nonvoice services to investing resources in educating customers about their availability and uses, network operators are an essential part of the process. From fundamental prerequisites such as deciding to invest in network infrastructure to support nonvoice services to investing resources in educating customers about their availability and uses, network operators are an essential part of the process.

23. Summary Summary GPRS will provide a massive boost to mobile data usage and usefulness. GPRS will provide a massive boost to mobile data usage and usefulness. That much seems assured from its flexible feature set, its latency and efficiency and speed. That much seems assured from its flexible feature set, its latency and efficiency and speed. The only question is how soon it takes off in earnest and how to ensure that the technical and commercial features do not hinder its widespread use. The only question is how soon it takes off in earnest and how to ensure that the technical and commercial features do not hinder its widespread use.